The trap set, also known as a drum kit, is a collection of drums and percussion instruments that can easily be played by a single drummer. It can usually be packed into a few cases that can be easily carried by one person, and it only takes a few minutes to set up before the drum set can be played.
The most basic trap set consists of a bass drum and two tom toms, which are usually mounted on top of the bass drum. Snare drums are commonly found in drum sets. The basic trap set is completed by one of two hi hat sets of cymbals. The bass drum and usually at least one set of cymbals are played with a foot pedal, while the remaining drums and cymbals are played with drumsticks and brushes.
A variety of other percussion instruments can be used to supplement basic trap sets. Chimes, wood blocks, and cowbells can be added to the basic gear to allow the drummer to create rhythm tracks with multiple layers of sound. The extra percussion elements that come with expanded drum kits are usually attached to the drums in some way, but they can also stand alone.
For quartets and other small musical groups with fewer than ten members, the trap set has long been a popular choice. It was used by the most popular musical quartets of the 1960s for almost all of the percussion needs required by rock and roll performances at the time. At times, the basic trap set was supplemented with the use of percussion instruments like tambourines or maracas. Along with rock bands that put a premium on sound quality on stage, jazz musicians tended to make extensive use of the trap set. The use of cymbals and the snare drum to create the right beat for a jazz composition was frequently emphasized.